An updated 2020 Honda Ridgeline pickup truck will be appearing in dealerships any day now, and the news for the mid-sizer is that a nine-speed automatic transmission replaces the current six-speed automatic.

The engine remains unchanged: Your only option is a 3.5-liter V-6 making 280 horsepower and 262 pounds-feet of torque. The new nine-speed automatic also features paddle shifters, while front-wheel drive is standard on the Sport and RTL models with all-wheel drive optional (AWD is standard on the RTL-E and Black Editions). Gone are the RT and RTL-T trim levels. In addition to the standard nine-speed, all models now get standard Honda Display Audio multimedia systems with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (versus it being on higher-end trims only), a remote locking tailgate, and Honda has somehow managed to figure out how to make the rear doors open wider than before.

On the safety side, Honda is making the Honda Safety Sensing suite of electronic technologies standard on all models, not just the top RTL-E and Black Edition trims. This package includes collision mitigation braking, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, road departure mitigation with lane departure warning.

Increased Entry-Level Pricing

More interesting, however, is that Honda has eliminated the base RT trim level, so the new price of entry is the more expensive Sport model with an entry price of $34,995, $510 more than the 2019 Sport (all prices include the $1,095 destination fee, which remains unchanged). Previously, the Ridgeline RT was available with a starting price of $31,085, making this a considerable increase of nearly $4,000 for the price of entry to a new Ridgeline. Prices on other models have increased, as well: The RTL jumps $1,800 to $37,765, while the RTL-E and Black Edition both see a modest $100 bump to $43,115 and $44,615, respectively. The all-wheel-drive option on the Sport and RTL has also gotten more expensive — it was $1,900 for 2019 models, and is now $2,240 for the 2020 Sport and $2,150 for the 2020 RTL.

The new 2020 Ridgeline is expected to arrive in dealerships starting Dec. 16.